Hangar OneN A T I O N A L W A S P W W I I M U S E U M N E W S L E T T E R

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RUN for the WASP

RUN photos by Jordan Solis

Overall male winner Justin Reed with Staff Sergeant Jared Adams

Overall female winner Austyn Montgomery

The timed 5Krun, 1.3 mile walk and Kids Fun Run was held on Nov. 14, starting at Hangar One, circling through the TSTC campus and finishing with a sprint up Avenger Field Road to the WASP Museum. The race started with the Museums Stearman flying over the racers and a flag lined course.

40 runners, 36 walkers and 5 kids participated under dark and windy skies as the first “cold spell” of the season blew through. It was the first year without Marvin Keenan who established the run in 2009 as a tribute to the Women Airforce Service Pilots on Veterans Day. Sponsors and local volunteers set up booths, handed out water, registered runners, put flags around the course and directed traffic. Wounded Warriors and the US Army participated for the first time this year.

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From Hangar OneC A R O L C A I N , Associate Director

From the Director’s CornerM I C H A E L A B L E S

N ovember is my favorite month at the WASP Museum. Two National Holidays that exemplify the purpose for this historical place fall in

November. On Veterans’ Day we pay tribute to and express our gratitude for the sacrifices of service men and women who have made the freedoms we all enjoy possible. At Avenger Field, we are especially cognizant of the British and Canadian male pilots as well as the American female pilots who trained here during WWII.

Then, Thanksgiving Day brings families and friends together to give thanks for the blessings and opportunities

that our freedom allows us – the only country in the world that guarantees life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Women Airforce Service Pilots put these freedoms to work; with courage, dedication, placing country above self, they became the first women to fly America’s military aircraft – proving that women could follow their dreams of flying and play a vital role in keeping America Free.

Come and visit the WASP Museum to see firsthand the accomplishments of these aviation pioneers.

H oliday seasons are a time to reflect on accomplishments. We are so proud of the many endeavors that the Museum has completed. In

the year 2015, the Museum has developed an invaluable relationship with Abilene Christian University allowing undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in an ever growing, expanding museum. This last year we celebrated several wonderful events, programs, lectures and presentations. As we close out this year we look forward to what the future holds for the Museum.

We are eager to see the progress of digitizing our collection, redeveloping our website, and working toward community development. Sharing the message of these women is our goal. We are finding creative opportunities to provide that outlet. Finally, without your support it would literally be impossible to accomplish our goals. On behalf of the staff and the National WASP WWII Museum, we want to thank you for your support. We hope everyone has a very safe and happy holiday.

Memorial Services were held for WASP Andrea C. Shaw on Oct 11, 2015, at the National WASP WWII Museum, Avenger Field-Sweetwater. Her ashes were spread over the old runway, where she trained, by Peggy Ward and Col. Sandy Opeka USAF (ret.). Military funeral honors were performed by Dyess AFB Color Guard.

Andrea C. Shaw, born March 18, 1919 in Bakersfield, CA, took her final flight January 11, 2015. After graduating from WASP training at Avenger Field, Andrea was stationed at Merced, March, Chico and Hamilton Air Force Bases in California where she flew the B-26 and the A-24 known as the “Douglas Dauntless.” Andrea volunteered for the Air Force in 1951- 88 and served three years as CO of a WAF Squadron. During that time she was stationed in England and Scotland. In 1959 Andrea took the

Civil Service exam and was assigned to Anchorage, AK as a customs “inspectress”.

Andrea joins WASP Elizabeth “Betty” Shea, Eleanor “Gunny” Gunderson, Betty Jo Reed and Jean Braun Bent who now rest at Avenger Field.

WASP Andrea C. Shaw 43-W-8 Memorial Ceremony At Avenger Field

2 Hangar One N A T I O N A L W A S P W W I I M U S E U M N E W S L E T T E R 3Lt. Col Samantha Weeks , Speaker

Dixie Atkeison Reeves stands by bronze of “FiFinella” created by her sister, WASP Ann Atkeison and Frances Withers.In 1976, the Sweetwater Woman’s Forum, commissioned WASP Ann Atkeison Reeves 44-10, and Frances Withers to create a bronze statue of FiFinella - the symbol of the Women Airforce Service Pilots - to be placed in the foyer of Nolan County Courthouse. After the National WASP WWII Museum was founded, the decision was made to move Fifi to Hangar One, overlooking the runways of Avenger Field where the WASP trained in 1943-44.

Dixie Atkeison Reeves and son Phillip Atkeison Reeves brought one of four small castings of Fifi that Ann created for her family. After the WASP were disbanded, Ann continued in aviation and aerospace work as an engineering writer for General Dynamics. She was a successful amateur sculpture until her death in 2005.

2015 CAF AirSho - MidlandOn August 29 and 30, over 30,000 visitors attended the 25th CAF AIRSHO at the Midland/Odessa International Airport to watch the USAF Thunderbirds and WWII Warbirds in action. The WASP Museum represented the Women Airforce Service Pilots at this exciting event since 2004. Brenda Stirl and Carol Cain manned the WASP booth.

New Intern ProjectThe National WASP WWII Museum has established an internship program with Abilene Christian University for undergraduate students in Dr. Vernon Williams program. These interns work in the archives for six hours each week gaining experience in artifact preservation, cataloging and accession procedures. Their hard work is making it possible for the museum to make our collection more accessible for research and exhibit use. Cheyenne Haden, Katy DiRago and Grace Rosa also volunteer for special events at the Museum.

New Traveling ExhibitA TRAVELING EXHIBIT of selected photographs and letters from WASP private collections depict the WASP experience at Avenger Field and capture west Texas culture in the 1940’s. For information to reserve the exhibit, call 325-235-0099.

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Wasp Maxine Flournoy and WASP Susie Bain received standing ovations

WASP Maxine Flournoy and WASP Susie Bain graciously accepted standing ovations from members of the University of Texas LAMP program on October 20, 2015. Susie and Maxie recounted their days as Women Airforce Service Pilots and answered questions from 250 guests in the UT Thompson Center, Austin, TX. Museum Associate Director, Carol Cain presented a very will received overview of the WASP program and the National WASP WWII Museum, but, couldn’t hold a candle to the “Fly Girls”.

WARBIRD COMES HOME TO ROOSTUC-78 “BAMBOO BOMBER”

This Cessna UC-78, USAAF Serial No. 42-14004, returned to Avenger Field and the National WASP WWII Museum on October 21, 2015, after a 71 year absence. The UC-78, nicknamed the “Bamboo Bomber” because of its primarily wooden construction, was used by the WASP as a twin engine trainer.

The Museum acquired the aircraft, including wings and engines, from aviation collector and historian, Scott Glover. Scott brought No. 42-14004 to the attention of museum board member Bill Johnson after research proved that this plane was one of the forty UC-78’s based at Avenger Field during 1943. It is believed to be the only surviving twin engine trainer flown by the WASP at Avenger Field.

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This year, give a Gift that keeps on Giving!

Museum MembershipHonorarium

2016 WASP CalendarMuseum Shop Gift

Silver Wings/Flying Dreams Texas Premier

On September 10, 2015, three WASP, Bee Haydu, Shirley Kruze, and Shutsy Reynolds, were guests of American Airlines at the Texas premier of a new documentary “Silver Wings/Flying Dreams, The Complete Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots”. The event was held at American’s C. R. Smith Museum near DFW Airport. The documentary was written, produced, and directed by Bill Suchy; narrated by Mary Thompson Hunt; and edited by Gerald J. Godbout III. Many of the scenes and interviews shown took place at the National WASP WWII Museum at Avenger Field. Bee, Shirley, and Shutsy, along with other WASP, were featured in the film.

Representing the Museum at the premier were Museum Board members, Lana Kraeszig, Sandy Opeka, Sandra Spears, and Brenda Stirl. Also representing the Museum was Associate Director Carol Cain.

Historic Military Convoy Traveling Bankhead Highway

Restored military vehicles driven by members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association stopped at the National WASP WWII Museum on Oct. 7th, on a recreation of a historic trip along the Bankhead Highway. The convoy started out in Washington DC on Sept 19, and finished in San Diego on Oct. 17.

Twenty years before WWII the army started to develop modern mobile strategies. One significant training exercise was a 3,300 mile trip across the nation using military vehicles, testing the nation’s major transcontinental highway: the Bankhead.

After starting in Washington DC, the convoy dipped down through the Bankhead’s Texas route, through Nolan County and past what would become Avenger Field. Ninety five years later the MVPA drove the Bankhead again, or as much as they could find.

Vision 2016 -- Expansion Project!Each gift you make pays tribute to the Women Airforce Service Pi-lots (WASP) and enables the National WASP WWII Museum to payfor a climate controlled museum expansion to properly display theprecious artifacts and memorabilia donated to the Museum by theWASP and their families. With construction slated to begin in May,your gift is vital to making this dream a reality and to helping us paydown the construction loan. Thank you!

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National WASP WWII MuseumP.O. Box 456Sweetwater, Texas 79556

Save the Dates!UPCOMING EVENTS:

HOMECOMING 2016Memorial Day CelebrationSaturday - May 28, 2016 Lt Col Christine Mau USAF,F-35A pilot - Guest Speaker

Run for the WASPVeterans Day CelebrationSaturday - November 12, 2016

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